O Príncipe Encantado

On her 29th birthday, magazine editor Samantha is living in an apartment in the Tribeca section of Manhattan. Her friend and co-worker Jen thinks she needs a man, and as one step in the process of finding someone for Samantha, she throws a party for her. The possible choices include Tony The Tiger (who is not grrreat) and Samantha's ex Brian, who wants to get back together. Brian sings her a song because he thinks he has the talent to make music a career. He is wrong.

Jonathan, whose nickname is Jack, lives next door and is disturbed by the party. He was a white-collar worker who now waits tables, with Gino, where his friends still eat. While they talk about their big deals, Jack's friends seem to think he is less of a person. Jack's dream is to start a newspaper called The Tribeca Times, but he is struggling to find advertisers and stories to attract readers. His sister Hilary, who is married with a child, thinks Jack needs a woman.

Jack decides to join a dating service and do a story about it. Samantha just happens to join the same service. They both meet someone ideal through email. Meanwhile, they hate each other--for example, Samantha's big dog messes up Jack's New York Times, they can't stand each other's music (I don't like any of the music either of them do, by the way). The email friends enjoy communicating about their lives, and especially about the jerk living next door.

Until they decide to meet, the two email friends endure a series of loser dates.

The ending is quite entertaining, resulting from coincidences and miscommunication.

This movie is Yahoo's answer to "You've Got Mail", which in my opinion was a superior movie. While I thought Meg Ryan was adorable in her movie, I couldn't stand Samantha and didn't care about seeing her happy. I thought I would like Jack, but he was no Tom Hanks. Both characters ended up being somewhat more pleasant as the movie progressed.

What I really liked were the quirky characters. Four of the loser dates were among the best of these: For Samantha, a magician (who was quite good), and Harry, who brought his therapist. For Jack, there was the anti-Semitic vegetarian who could only speak one word at a time, and the woman in the limo who thought she was supposed to pay. Other standout characters: the fortune-teller Jack visited, the woman at the dating service who worked with Samantha, and the man at the dating service who worked with Jack (I do know his name was George).

I'm not saying this was a bad movie. I don't recall any specific weaknesses. I just know that except for the ending, I wasn't that happy.

This is what I call a nice movie. It's not one of those overhyped lovestories with stars in each role (like Sleepless In Seattle), and the story isn't as stupid and exagerated as in some of those movies. While this is a strength of this movie, it also is it's weakness. It's not as exciting as it could be, perhaps because the movie is more a comedy than a lovestory. But then the jokes are too harmless to make this movie outstanding. I guess this is worth a watch if you want to watch a nice lovestory that isn't too kitschy (that probably means that you have to be older than 16 to enjoy this movie).

Samantha (Tia Carrere) and Jack (David Charvet) are neighbors in New York City. But, they detest one another! Samantha's dog is always urinating on Jack's paper, Jack plays music too loudly late at night, etc. By happenstance, they both sign up for a dating service that allows clients to email potential matches. Naturally, Jack and Samantha begin corresponding with each other and find they enjoy many of the same things. But, what will happen when the two meet face to face?

This romantic take-off from You've Got Mail can stand quietly on its own. Carrere is a beauty and gives an attractive performance, even though she pouts a bit too much. Charvet, who resembles the cute Matthew Broderick, also offers a sweet yet seductive portrayal of a young businessman with romantic aspirations. Anyone who enjoys the NYC environs will find the setting itself sports charm. The writing, too, is fairly humorous and holds the viewer's interest. Recommended for those who are forever on the lookout for a new, feel-good romance with humor.

Though the plot of the movie itself is not terribly original, 'Meet Prince Charming,' to me, has a lovely charm of its own. The fact that its actors aren't high-profile does indeed add a feeling of reality. I find that refreshing, and the fact that it's not a Meg Ryan film provides a sigh of relief. I do like Meg Ryan, but she can be over-the-top and has historically played such consistently high-strung characters that actors of that sort tire me out at times.

On the plot issue, this is truly a variation on a theme. Look at the title; it's a dead giveaway. My impression is that it wasn't intended to be more than it is. And in using the term variation I think of it as the word is used in music (classical, or if you're into rock, think of the variations between the studio release of a song and the live version . . . ). Another example would be the many variations of the Cinderella story, from the Disney animated version, to the lovely classic 1960s television version, to the far different 'Ever After,' where the 'Cinderella' character is a strong woman, indeed a 'tough chick.' Another way to look at it is to compare it to television. It's like taking a break from the X-commercialization of the CSI empire and all the similar shows. I enjoy them sometimes, but they're glitzy/glamorous, 'fast & furious,' and are intent on producing the highest drama they can put into their alloted time. They can be wearying! If you've ever seen the lower-key but more realistic-feeling 'da Vinci's Inquest,' a Canadian production, you'll be aware of the difference. I like it far better, for viewing on a regular basis.

My point is that though the movie is low-key and obviously wasn't a big commercial-success-type film, it has a gentle and thoughtful sweetness that, for this viewer, was worth watching. And yes, it is definitely a chick flick.

Tia Carrere and TriBeCa are nice to look at, but where was the tension? The viewer knows that just like its predecessors "Shop Around the Corner", "You've Got Mail" and how many others that the leads will realize that they've been meant for each other all along and will fall in love, but this show lacked any obstacles for them to overcome on their way.

Nor do we learn how these future lovers began to hate each other in the first place.

The final act seemed tacked on like a filler -- the film could have ended without it and been just as unsatisfying.